Jockeys are planning Monday strike

Jockeys are planning to go on strike on Monday in protest over the new whip rules, it was reported today, less than 24 hours after Richard Hughes quit the sport.

The rule changes by the British Horseracing Authority came into force this week but have already infuriated jockeys who believe it is unfair.

Hughes was given a five-day ban on Monday for breaching the regulations and then handed a 10-day penalty after falling foul at Kempton last night.

That prompted the 38-year-old to say he would not race again until the rules were reviewed and his action seems to have sparked his colleagues into action. Hughes will miss tomorrow's showpiece meeting at Ascot.

It is said jockeys will refuse to ride in Monday's three scheduled meetings, over the jumps at Plumpton and the Flat races at Pontefract and Windsor.

Jockeys are limited to seven uses of the whip in a Flat race and eight in a jumps race, and only five times in the last furlong or after the final obstacle.